The number of illegal aliens seeking to avoid deportation by invoking the “credible fear” (asylum) claim surged in Fiscal Year 2018 (FY18), U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) reported Monday.

By claiming they have “credible fear” of returning to their home countries, illegal aliens can remain in the U.S. until there asylum application is reviewed.

The number of illegal aliens who were apprehended who, then, claimed credible fear, jumped 43%, from 38,300 in FY17 to 54,690 in FY18. The number of aliens who were deemed inadmissible at a U.S. port of entry, but who then claimed credible fear, more than doubled (up 121%), from 17,248 to 38,269.

In all, total claims of credible fear rose 67%, from 55,584 to 92,959. Accordingly, credible fear claims as a percentage of all illegal alien apprehensions and inadmissibles increased from 13% to 18%.

From 2000-2013, “fewer than 1 percent of those encountered by CBP initiated asylum claims,” CBP reports.

CBP Commissioner Kevin K. McAleenan is calling on Congress to address the abuse of America’s willingness to protect immigrants who are in actual danger:

“These numbers reflect a dramatic increase in initial fear claims by those encountered on the border, which is straining border security, immigration enforcement and courts, and other federal resources.”

“As the majority of these claims will not be successful when they are adjudicated by an immigration court, we need Congress to act to address these vulnerabilities in our immigration system which continue to negatively impact border security efforts.”